IP Library Granted Patent US 12,203,267
Granted Patent B2
US 12,203,267 · App. 17/125,440 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Furniture system

Inventors: Gregory Goosen (Grand Rapids, MI); David Eberlein (Hudsonville, MI); Robert Scheper (Grand Rapids, MI); Joshua Bultema (Grandville, MI); William Patrick Fricke (Grand Rapids, MI); Cal Von Linsowe (Sparta, MI)
Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
E04B2/7405A47B85/04A47B2200/12A47B2220/0091
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,203,267
App. No.
17/125,440
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A furniture system includes a furniture member including at least one slot, the furniture member having a first portion defining a first width of the at least one slot and second portion defining a second width of the at least one slot, the second width greater than the first width, a pair of support members each having a pair of recesses, each of the support members rotatable between a first position where the support member may be inserted into or removed from the at least one slot, and a second position where the recesses of the support member engage the first portion of the furniture member preventing removal of the support member from the at least one slot, and a screen member engaging the pair of support members thereby preventing the support members from rotating from the second position to the first position.

Claims (36)

1. A furniture system, comprising:

a furniture member including at least one slot, the furniture member having a first portion defining a first width of the at least one slot and second portion defining a second width of the at least one slot, the second width greater than the first width;

a pair of support members each having a pair of recesses, each of the support members rotatable between a first position where the support member may be inserted into or removed from the at least one slot, and a second position where the recesses of the support members engage the first portion of the furniture member preventing removal of the support member from the at least one slot; and

a screen member engaging the pair of support members thereby preventing the support members from rotating from the second position to the first position.

2. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the furniture member includes a beam member.

3. The furniture system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one slot includes an open interior extending longitudinally along a length of the beam member.

4. The furniture system of claim 3 , wherein the open interior is configured to route wires therethrough.

5. The furniture system of claim 3 , wherein the beam member includes a bottom wall and a pair of side walls that define the open interior.

6. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the furniture member includes a pair of side walls and a pair of top walls extending inwardly from the side walls, where the top walls include the first portion of the furniture member and the side walls include the second portion of the furniture member.

7. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the screen member extends along a length of the at least one slot when the screen member is engaged with the pair of support members.

8. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the screen member extends substantially orthogonal to the at least one slot when the screen member is engaged with the pair of support members.

9. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein each of the support members includes a relief, and wherein the screen member engages each of the support members by positioning the screen member within the relief of each of the support members.

10. The furniture system of claim 9 , wherein the relief of each support member includes an upwardly-opening slot.

11. The furniture system of claim 9 , wherein the screen member frictionally engages the relief.

12. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the screen member abuts a floor surface.

13. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the screen member includes a privacy screen.

14. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot extends longitudinally along the furniture member.

15. A furniture system, comprising:

a furniture member including a longitudinally-extending slot, the furniture member having a first portion defining a first width of the slot and second portion defining a second width of the slot, the second width greater than the first width;

a pair of support members each having a pair of recesses, each of the support members rotatable between a first position where the support member may be inserted into or removed from the slot, and a second position where the recesses of the support member engage the first portion of the furniture member preventing removal of the support member from the slot; and

a screen member sandwiched between and connected to the pair of support members thereby preventing the support members from rotating from the second position to the first position.

16. The furniture system of claim 15 , wherein the screen member is connected to the support members via at least one mechanical fastener.

17. The furniture system of claim 15 , wherein the furniture member includes a bottom wall and a pair of side walls that define the slot.

18. The furniture system of claim 15 , wherein the furniture member includes a pair of side walls and a pair of top walls extending inwardly from the side walls, where the top walls include the first portion of the furniture member and the side walls include the second portion of the furniture member.

19. The furniture system of claim 15 , wherein the screen member extends substantially orthogonal to the longitudinally extending slot.

20. The furniture system of claim 15 , wherein the screen member abuts a floor surface.

21. The furniture system of claim 15 , wherein the furniture member includes a beam member.

22. A furniture system, comprising:

a furniture member including a longitudinally-extending slot configured for routing wires therethrough, a first end and a second end;

a pair of support members each engaging the slot; and

a screen member frictionally engaging each of the support members and movable between an extended position where the screen member extends beyond one of the ends of the furniture member, and a retracted position where the screen member does not extend beyond the one end of the furniture member;

wherein the furniture member further includes a first portion defining a first width of the slot and second portion defining a second width of the slot that is greater than the first width, and wherein each of the support members includes a pair of recesses, each support member rotatable between a first position where the support member may be inserted into or removed from the slot, and a second position where the recesses of the support member engage the first portion of the beam member preventing removal of the support member from the slot.

23. The furniture system of claim 22 , wherein the support members each include an upwardly-opening slot that frictionally receives an edge of the screen member therein.

24. The furniture system of claim 22 , wherein each support member further includes an upwardly-opening relief, and wherein the screen member engages the upwardly-opening relief of each of the support members thereby preventing each of the support members from rotating from the second position to the first position.

25. The furniture system of claim 22 , wherein the furniture member includes a bottom wall and a pair of side walls that define the slot.

26. The furniture system of claim 22 , wherein the furniture member includes a beam member.

Assignments (3)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2026
From: AMQ SOLUTIONS, LLC; HALCON FURNITURE LLC; SMITH SYSTEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY; STEELCASE INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074944/0368 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2026
From: AMQ SOLUTIONS, LLC; HALCON FURNITURE LLC; SMITH SYSTEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY; STEELCASE INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 074944/0784 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2020
From: GOOSEN, GREGORY; EBERLEIN, DAVID; SCHEPER, ROBERT; BULTEMA, JOSHUA; FRICKE, WILLIAM PATRICK; VON LINSOWE, CAL
To: STEELCASE INC
Reel/Frame 054692/0670 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62952918 · Dec 23, 2019
Related Publication 20210189720A1 · Jun 24, 2021
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